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Project Will Meet Needs of Growing Ridership & Support Local Economic Growth

October 01, 2018

PHILADELPHIA (October 1, 2018) - SEPTA gathered today with elected officials, community leaders and other stakeholders, to announce plans for a new, state-of-the-art parking garage at the 69th Street Transportation Center in Upper Darby.

This project is a partnership between SEPTA and Upper Darby to meet the needs of growing transit ridership, as well as support local business and economic growth. The multi-story precast concrete garage is proposed for the northwest corner of Chatham and Market Streets and will be built overtop the existing bus berths and taxi stand. The parking garage will contain 431 parking spaces, including 11 ADA-accessible spaces. As part of the project, there will be an additional surface lot containing 89 spaces adjacent to the new garage. Overall, the project will increase parking capacity from 182 spaces to 520 spaces at the multi-modal facility.

SEPTA has utilized Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds to design the project and complete two early action projects - construction of a retaining wall and the relocation of a Market-Frankford Line substation - site preparation work that was necessary for SEPTA to advance the future garage project. Construction of the garage will be funded through Act 89, the state's comprehensive transportation funding law passed in November 2013. Act 89 has enabled SEPTA to embark on its Rebuilding the System program, a comprehensive initiative to reinvest in the transit network throughout the region.

"SEPTA has moved quickly to utilize Act 89 funds system-wide, making long-needed infrastructure upgrades and replacing equipment that has long out-lived its usefulness," said SEPTA Board Chairman Pasquale T. Deon, Sr. "These efforts are critical to sustaining our transportation network, and growing economic development in the region and throughout the state."

69th Street is SEPTA's largest transportation center, serving nearly 35,000 riders on an average weekday. It provides connections to the Market-Frankford Line, Trolley Routes 101 and 102, the Norristown High Speed Line and 18 bus routes.

"69th Street Transportation Center is a critical hub in SEPTA's system, connecting tens of thousands of riders each day to employment, healthcare and other important destinations in Delaware County and

Philadelphia," said SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey D. Knueppel. "This parking garage will help us meet the needs of our riders, and support local businesses and economic growth in the surrounding area."

"69th Street Transportation Center is a vital transit gateway," said Upper Darby Township Mayor Thomas N. Micozzie. "SEPTA's recent investments have modernized aging infrastructure and improved connectivity and accessibility. I look forward to working with SEPTA to advance the garage project and delivering another important asset for Upper Darby residents and those traveling here for work and shopping."

Highlights of the $31 million project will also include:

New street-level bus berths that will provide convenient, off-street service points and bus staging areas that do not interfere with traffic movement